Members from the African Children's Choir will perform in Nanaimo on Friday, raising money for educational opportunties in Uganda. (submitted photo)

By Alex Rawnsley

naniamo performance

‘These children deserve every opportunity:’ African Children’s Choir funding education through song

Mar 20, 2025 | 6:26 PM

NANAIMO — A unique cultural performance from halfway around the world is preparing to hit the stage locally, raising money for educational opportunities.

The African Children’s Choir, celebrating its 40th anniversary, will hold a free show titled “Just As I Am” at the Departure Bay Baptist Church on Friday, March 21 beginning at 7 p.m.

Combining hymns with traditional African musical elements, choir manager Tina Sipp told NanaimoNewsNOW it’s something seldom seen on Vancouver Island.

“There’s a video story that goes behind it, it’s very energetic, very inspirational, very colourful as the children change costumes three times. There’s some cultural elements, drumming, African dance…there’s a number of African songs as well combined with the English songs. It’s very engaging.”

The choir, made up of 18 children between nine and 11 years old, are part of a much larger organization which has performed regularly since 1984.

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Sipp said children in the Ugandan-based choir typically complete a catch-up year of education before heading out on the road for a tour, typically performing four times per week over a period of roughly three months.

Once they return home, the children complete primary and secondary school and are sponsored by the organization to move into post-secondary education.

“Vocational school, trade school, university, whatever it is they decided to do.”

While the show itself is free, donations are encouraged to help support their organization’s continued efforts, which is largely volunteer-driven.

“We have a staff of both African and western chaperones, they care for the children, they’re their family on the road…and they’re all volunteers. They go out, raise their own support to come and help the children while they’re on tour, guide them, train them, love them and protect them.”

Since starting in the mid-1980s, nearly 60,000 children have graduated through the program and gone onto higher education.

Sipp added local host families house the choir when they’re in a community, while connected churches provide meals and other support.

“It’s really the spirit of the children people are mesmerized by. They just see the joy, the hope and smiles and the energy from the children…you can just see the brightness of the children and that’s what we’re trying to showcase. These children deserve every opportunity that our children get and that’s not necessarily a given for them.”

Seating on Friday night is on a first-come-first-serve basis.

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